into the north where extremists seized power earlier this year. the rejection oftheu.n. planhave worried diplomats. >> one thing is clear. our offer is of aid to mali are based on restoring constitutional order and it continues to be carried out credibly. >> the international community fears that the instability could spread across the region. >> a spokesperson for the military denied that another coup had taken place but said the prime minister was no longer working in the interests of the country. >> it has been a state in political crisis since last march. as we saw, islamist militants took advantage of a power vacuum and seized control of the north where they have imposed sharia law. >> once an exotic destination, the north is now a virtual no go zone for reporters and westerners. >> no. mali now under their control. they're calling themselves the defenders of the faith. they are said to be linked to al qaeda. date run autonomously in small groups. he says the aim of the group is clear. >> we want sure real law in all -- sharia law in mali. want a muslim state. >> he is totally not c